Everything/Anything and…Chess…"Despite the documented evidence by chess historian HJR Murray, I've always thought that chess was invented by a goddess"–George Koltanowski: from the foreword to:"Women in chess, players of the Modern Age"

This photo was taken when I was about 15-16 – on the farm where I grew up. We had a variety of farm animals. These ducks were a treat. They were beautiful and curious! This photo brought back many sweet memories from the time on the farm. Early morning, before Father Sun was too high up in the sky, they took the route to the dam. They waited for one another on the other side of the road, as they were crossing the dusty road. It was fun watching them as they were waddling all the way to the dam, even watching them crossing the road was entertaining. They crossed the road, waiting for the next duck before they moved slightly higher up the steep ‘duck’-path to make space for each other, before they all entered the water with a very loud quak quak! This photo gave me the blues!

This is from Google-maps – see the green arrow – that is the dam [the dark spot]-click the image for a larger view

Please click the image for a larger view – On this image I’ve zoomed out – yellow spots where I spent hours in the mountains, blue – water/river – light brown [very light – you can see it when the image is large] lines: small footpaths in the mountains

Carol Burnett: Words, once they are printed, have a life of their own.

A blogreader thought this poem was written by Annesu de Vos and she had replied to Kim’s tweets. Wow, great to see what Annesu thought about a poem I’ve written. I don’t see myself as a poet or professional, but I’m still impressed with her comments.

Sunny Meerkat decided to find the perfect place to stay – and then sent postcards home about his travels and experiences. The Meerkat motto is: Stay Safe, Stay Together. [and sleep together!] Click photos for a larger view, especially the photo following the next photo, so you can read the message.

This entry is more about a new Afrikaans song by Steve Hofmeyr – he sings in English too, and if you like the voice of Neil Diamond, then you will surely like his music too. Anyway, this new Afrikaans song is a protest song and I was reading on the link, in this post, about protest songs. Afrikaans is a young language and since the start Afrikaans struggled to survive. The British settled in South Africa in 1820 and then after the South African-British War – Boer War – Afrikaans was also ‘banned’. In primary schools, if you dared to speak your mother tongue [Afrikaans], you got a board around your neck stated ‘Donkey’ on it. At the moment, Afrikaners [not Africans] again, have to fight to survive. Not just to survive as a human race, but also the language as such. Farmers get murdered on a weekly basis [don’t forget the murders in the towns and cities too.] The world is IGNORANT! Goethe said, “There is nothing more frightening than active ignorance.” I’ve found the lyrics to the song and also some English words to it [to part of it], but you will get the ‘message’. ‘Apartheid’ was nothing comparing to what happens now in our beautiful country. And if you really think you know everything about Apartheid, then I think you know just a tiny drop in the ocean of what it really was. Being in the UK now for long enough to know what they ‘know’ about ‘Apartheid’, is enough to tell me that they believed anything that was dished up to them as ‘Apartheid’. We all know what the ANC tried to achieve with their ‘campaigns’ and with a world full of narrow-minded people, they achieved what they wanted including the toi-toi on Trafalgar Square in the 1980’s and their sad sing-songs in America. Also, I think some of us know WHY things happened as it happened – like the Zimbabwean-ordeal – and it is just a matter of ‘time’ and South Africa will be there too – then those ‘waiting’ will ‘close in’.[and I’m not referring here to ‘those’ as the Afrikaners]. During the Boer War the British found it hard to win the war… we are a nation made up from different nations. We will fight and stand up again. Ex Unitate Vires= Unity is Strength

Read more about us here:

THE BOER NATIONS

Take a community of Dutchmen of the type of those who defendedthemselves for fifty years against all the power of Spain at a timewhen Spain was the greatest power in the world. Intermix with them astrain of those inflexible French Huguenots who gave up home andfortune and left their country for ever at the time of the revocationof the Edict of Nantes. The product must obviously be one of the mostrugged, virile, unconquerable races ever seen upon earth. Take thisformidable people and train them for seven generations in constantwarfare against savage men and ferocious beasts, in circumstancesunder which no weakling could survive, place them so that they acquireexceptional skill with weapons and in horsemanship, give them acountry which is eminently suited to the tactics of the huntsman, themarksman, and the rider. Then, finally, put a finer temper upon theirmilitary qualities by a dour fatalistic Old Testament religion and anardent and consuming patriotism. Combine all these qualities and allthese impulses in one individual, and you have the modern Boer — themost formidable antagonist who ever crossed the path of ImperialBritain. Our military history has largely consisted in our conflictswith France, but Napoleon and all his veterans have never treated usso roughly as these hard-bitten farmers with their ancient theologyand their inconveniently modern rifles. —Arthur Conan Doyle

On THIS LINK link, – on my blog – I said in 2007 that I hope we as a nation will – again – rise and stand together one day. Eventhough we are scattered all over the planet at the moment, I do look forward to that day when things will ‘come together’ for all of us.

What is protest music? In April 1966, Bob Dylan arrived in Stockholm as part of his controversial “electric” world tour, and a local interviewer asked him why he was no longer writing and performing protest songs. Dylan, irritated and more than a little out of it, objected to the question’s premise and called one of his new rock ’n’ roll compositions the very height of protest music: “Very, very protesty. And, uh, one of the protestiest of all things I ever protested against in my protest years.”

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Beauty lives with kindness-Shakespeare, Two Gentlemen of Verona

I took the road less travelled by,
and that has made all the difference. Robert Frost Creativity is the defeat of habit by originality.-Arthur KoestlerNo man ever steps in the same river twice-
HeraclitusThere is nothing more frightening than active ignorance. - Goethe Churchill described his impressions of the Boer army when he first saw it, as a recently taken captive: 'What men they were, these Boers! I thought of them as I had seen them in the morning riding forward through the rain--thousands of independent riflemen, thinking for themselves, possessed of beautiful weapons, led with skill, living as they rode without commissariat or transport or ammunition column, moving like the wind, and supported by iron constitutions'.Carlsen vs Anand Sochi 2014

Anand vs Carlsen Chennai 2013You can fool some of the people all of the time, and all of the people some of the time, but you can not fool all of the people all of the time.-Abraham LincolnSpoken by great men:"Give me 20 divisions of American soldiers and I will breach Europe. Give me 15 consisting of Englishmen and I will advance to the borders of Berlin. Give me two divisions of those marvellous fighting Boers and I will remove Germany from the face of the earth." - Field Marshal Bernard L. Montgomery, Commander of the Allied Forces during WW2."The Americans fight for a free world, the English mostly for honor, glory and medals, the French and Canadians decide too late that they have to participate. The Italians are too scared to fight, the Russians have no choice. The Germans for their Fatherland. The Boers? Those sons of Bitches fight for the hell of it." Amercan General, George 'Guts and Glory' Patton.
European Chess Club Cup 2012

London Chess Classic 2015A nation that forgets its past has no future - Winston ChurchillHe who knows not, and knows not that he knows not, is a fool. Shun him. He who knows not, and knows that he knows not, is a child. Teach him. He who knows, and knows not that he knows, is asleep. Wake him. He who knows, and knows that he knows, is a leader. Follow him. If Education is the key, school is the lock. Education is either to calm the disturbed or disturb the calm. He who opens a school door, closes a prison-Victor HugoDocendo discimus [by teaching we learn] Gary Player: 'I am a South African, a nation which is the result of an African graft on European stock and which is the product of its instinct and ability to maintain civilized values and standards amongst the aliens'.Above all shadows rides the sun- Tolkien In Renaissance Europe chess was part of the education of the nobility and was proclaimed the “Royal Game.” In 1732 Benjamin Franklin wrote an essay, The Morals Of Chess, in which he said “The game of chess is not merely an idle amusement; several very valuable qualties of the mind useful in the course of human life are to be acquired and strengthened by it....” 'Rebranding the Afrikaner: World Cup watershed?' [CNN] A good link: read all of Jabulani74's comments on this link.
on THIS LINK you can read the truth - Sharpeville [or the lies, whichever way you want to see it-see the 2nd image too]The darkest places in hell are reserved for those who maintain their neutrality in times of moral crisis. Dante AligheriSow the wind - Reap the hurricaneIstanbul Chess 2012 [Click the image for the official site]Biel Chess Festival 2011- Click the image for the official site "Mag aldus die Afrikaner stam, van wie die toekoms altyd vol hoop was, in die einde opgroei tot 'n kragtige boom, en ons dade toon dat ons waardig is om 'n plek in te neem in die ry van die volke..." Paul KrugerLife is not about waiting for the storms to pass... It's about learning how to dance in the rain-Vivian GreeneNo one can know or appreciate the Boer who does not know his past, for he is what his past has made him- Conan Doyle - Click HERE to read more by Doyle.

An opinion should be the result of thought, not a substitute for it.South Africa. Other than Germany probably the most misunderstood White country in the world. A country that has now degenerated into anarchy.Let’s take an unbiased look at their noble history.[click for the link]He who knows nothing is closer to the truth than he whose mind is filled with falsehoods and errors. Thomas JeffersonAny dead thing can go with the stream; it takes something ALIVE to swim against it.Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak. Knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit; Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.T.S. Eliot Immature poets imitate; mature poets steal; bad poets deface what they take and good poets make it into something better, or at least something differentThe man who does not know who his great-grandfather was, naturally enough would not care what he was...the man who fears to disgrace his ancestor is certainly less likely to disgrace himself. Charles Major, When Knighthood was in Flower

Die grootheid van die mens kan gesien word in hoe hy teenoor sy minderheid optree.Every truth has four corners: as a teacher I give you one corner, and it is for you to find the other three.-ConfuciusMusic expresses feeling and thought, without language; it was below and before speech, and it is above and beyond all words. ~Robert G.Ingersoll'And lastly, we learn by chess the habit of not being discouraged by present bad appearances in the state of our affairs; the habit of hoping for a favorable chance, and that of preserving in the search of resources.' -Benjamin Franklin, 'The Morals of Chess'The hardest game to win is a won game --Emmanuel LaskerAvoid the crowd. Think independently. Be the chess player, not the chess piece- RumiIt is better to fail in originality than to succeed in imitation. -Herman MelvilleWhile one should always study the method of a great artist, one should never imitate his manner. The manner of an artist is essentially individual, the method of an artist is absolutely universal. The first is personality, which no one should copy.Did you know: Chess has the most extensive literature of any game, sport or pastime.Chess is a sea in which a gnat may drink and an elephant may bathe –Indian proverbChess is the touchstone of the human intellect.
-Johann Wolfgang von GoetheThe chessboard is the world, the pieces are the phenomena of the Universe, the rules of the game are what we call the laws of Nature and the player on the other side is hidden from us--Thomas Huxley.God created the world just like a knife and left it up to us to take it by the handle or the blade--C J LangenhovenJou persepsie hang waarskynlik alles af van hóé wyd jou opvatting van die poësie is-Joan Hambidge.Doubt is the beginning, not the end, of wisdom.- Proverb. I doubt, therefore I think; I think therefore I am.-Rene Descartes-
Doubt is not the opposite of faith; it is one element of faith.- Paul Tillich
He who knows nothing, doubts nothing. Spanish proverb. Wisdom begins in wonder.- SocratesVal eerder in my sop as in my rede--LangenhovenSeek in the past everything that is good and clean and build thereon your future.Vriende moet soos boeke wees, min, maar goed uitgesoek --LangenhovenFriends should be like books, few, but hand-selected --Langenhoven Goeie boeke en musiek verryk jou siel --LangenhovenGood books and music enrich your soul --LangenhovenLet those love now who never loved before. Let those who always loved now love the more. --Thomas ParnellLove is like quicksand--the deeper you fall in, the harder it is to get out.Some people come into our lives, leave footprints on our hearts, and we are never the same.There is no failure except in no longer trying--Elbert Hubbard.The secret of success is the ability to survive failure --Noel Coward.You cannot step twice in the same river, for other waters are continually flowing in--Knowing not how to listen is knowing not how to speak--Heraclitus, Fragments.Vuil wasgoed is om te was!-- Langenhoven'I think one move ahead - but it is always the best move'-RetiSome part of a mistake is always correct. - Savielly TartakoverChess teaches you to control the initial excitement you feel when you see something that looks good and it trains you to think objectively when you're in trouble.--Stanley Kubrick A man is like a fraction whose numerator is what he is and whose denominator is what he thinks of himself. The larger the denominator, the smaller the fraction.
Leo Tolstoy Love is like a knife, it can stab the heart or it can carve wonderful images into the soul that will last a lifetime.A rising tide raises all boats! - JFKennedyThe artist creates in order to free himself, only to find himself again in the end-Irma SternAnd think not you can guide the course of love. For love, if it finds you worthy, shall guide your course.Kahlil Gibran Chess, like love, like music, has the power to make men happy.TarraschChess is a beautiful mistress.LarsenChess is as much a mystery as women.PurdyEarly to bed, early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise.Benjamin FranklinLove is like a Game of Chess: One False Move and You're Mated ~ Anonymous~Chess is the art which expresses the science of logic.Mikhail BotvinnikThe pawns are the soul of chess.Philidor~~Play to win, if not, be an artist and draw~~

Those that know, do. Those that understand, teach. Aristotle
By learning we teach and by teaching we learn
Men Top Ten chess players
Women Top Ten chess players

Chess Grandmaster -Vassily Ivanchuk says:
"And do you like playing chess against women?
I wouldn’t say I do particularly, but I also wouldn’t say I don’t like it. In general, I try not to make an exception out of games against women. In chess, female logic differs little from male logic, which you can see just by analysing games. After all, the strongest female players work with men in one way or another. I don’t know what the female style of play is. Or more precisely, I don’t see any difference when compared to male play. In everyday life I also don’t divide people into men and women. For me, personal qualities, mentality and upbringing are the important things when spending time with people."

Some Thoughts

Everyone is a genius.But if you judge a fish on its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing it is stupid.It is hard for an empty bag to stand upright.― Benjamin FranklinThe real challenges on the way to become a master test your strength of character more than they test your chess skill!-Kevin SpraggettA people are what its women are. The woman is the conscience of her nation as well as the measure of its values. The moral life of a nation is controlled by the women and by the women can we measure the moral condition of the people. - Postma Descartes: cogito ergo sum (ek dink, daarom is ek)==The stupid neither forgive nor forget, the naive forgive and forget,the wise forgive but do not forget--Thomas SzaszWanneer jy groot dinge dink, groot dinge glo en groot dinge bid, gebeur groot dinge - N V PealeMense sonder boeke, is soos arende sonder vlerke-G.D.LabuschagneA mere copier of nature can never produce anything great. -Joshua Reynolds
~~~ Jou beeld is 'n verflenterde foto in 'n skewe, versplinterde raam en 'n sestal geskommelde letters spel jou tweelettergrepige naam Jou woorde is dor manuskripte vir die motte bewaar op die rak en ons dae 'n kralesnoer syfers op 'n outydse muuralmanak. - Koos du PlessisLove means nothing in tennis, but it's everything in life.Einstein:Chess grips its exponent, shackling the mind and brain so that the inner freedom and independence of even the strongest character cannot remain unaffected.

Die woord 'skaak' kom van die Persiese woord 'sjah', wat koning beteken. Ook die woord 'mat' is Persies en beteken 'dood'.
~~~2010!If chess is a science, it's a most inexact one. If chess is an art, it's too exacting to be seen as one. If chess is a sport, it's too esoteric. If chess is a game, it's too demanding to be just a game. If chess is a mistress, she's a demanding one. If chess is a passion, it's a rewarding one.
If chess is life, it's a sad one-UnknownAnand vs Topalov 21 April 2010Book of the moment: In Search of South Africa by H V Morton

http://rpc.technorati.com/rpc/ping

Don't Quit
by: Unknown Author

When things go wrong as they sometimes will,
When the road you're trudging seems all uphill,
When funds are low and the debts are high,
And you want to smile, but you have to sigh.
When care is pressing you down a bit.
Rest, if you must, but don't you quit.
Life is queer with its twists and turns
As every one of us sometimes learns.
And many a failure turns about
When he might have won had he stuck it out:
Don't give up though the pace seems slow -
You may succeed with another blow.
Success is failure turned inside out -
The silver tint of the clouds of doubt.
And you never can tell how close you are.
It may be near when it seems so far:
So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit
It's when things seem worst that you must not quit.

'He who knows not and knows not he knows not, is a fool, shun him. He who knows not and knows he knows not, is simple, teach him. He who knows and knows not that he knows, is asleep, wake him. He who knows and knows that he knows, is a leader/wise - follow him.' -